Government to make decision on Cystic Fibrosis medicine Orkambi

Ministers are to decide on the affordability of cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi this month.

HSE management is to consider a proposal from the drug’s manufacturer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, in coming weeks after a previous offer was deemed too expensive to fund.

The company had demanded €159,000 per patient, per year, which would cost the HSE €391 million over five years.

The executive was only willing to pay €30,000 per patient, or €75 million over ...